Rail chief takes the gravy train

No wonder ministers are so out of touch with the eye-watering cost of rail fares.

Labour Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle

As commuters are hit with huge price hikes, Tory minister Simon Burns relaxes in the back of his Government car.

Taxpayers stump up £80,000 a year for the chauffeured motor to take him from his Essex home to Westminster just 35 miles away. An annual train ticket between his hometown of Chelmsford and London would cost less than £3,500.

Labour Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said: “No wonder ministers are so out of touch with the eye-watering cost of rail fares.

“They should get out of their limos and speak to those hard-pressed commuters who have seen the cost of their season ticket rocket by hundreds of pounds.”

A spokesman for passengers’ group Railfuture said: “It would be nice if the person who is setting these fare rises was also experiencing some of the congestion and overcrowding endured by travellers.”

PM David Cameron has urged all ministers to ditch their expensive limos and use public transport.

Mr Burns said: “I have given up my second home in London and I commute carrying classified papers which I work on during my journey.”